memoir and remains

Front matter

Google to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

Chapter I. — Youth and Education . -13 II. — Ordination and Ministry at Burghead ^19

III.— Eighteen years in Trinity Church, Aberdeen, before

the Disruption . . . . -24

„ IV. — Pastoral Labours in Trinity Free Church -36

„ V. — Last Days and Death . . . -55

SERMONS.

I. Luke ii. 10, 11.— The Joyful Tidmgs of a Saviour's Birth . 63

II. Song i. 3. — ^The Consolatory Power of Jesus* Name . . 84

III. Ps. bcxii. 17, 18.— The Fmal Triumph of the Redeemer's

Kingdom on Earth . . . . . • 9^

IV. Tit. ii. 13. — ^The Glories of Christ's Second Coming . 122

V. Rev. XX. 11-15. — ^The Majesty and Omniscience of the Final

ADDRESSES TO YOUNG MEN.

I. The young man contemplated, while residing under his

parents' roof . . . . . '159

II. The young man contemplated, when he first makes a public

profession of religion » . . . -175

III. The young man contemplated, when he has commenced the

active business of life . . . . .181 viii Contents.

VAQM

IV. The young man contemplated, when he has removed to a

distance from home, or gone to a foreign land . i86

V. The young man contemplated, when about to select a companion for life ...... 195

VI. The young man contemplated, when exposed to those various

temptations so often employed to lead him astray . . 206

VII.- The young man contemplated, while enjoying worldly

prosperity ....... 217

VIII. The young man contemplated, under discouragements and

IX. The young man contemplated, in a state of religious

declension ....... 228

X. -The young man contemplated, going on in his Christian

course rejoicing, and actively engaged in doing good . 235

XI. The yoimg man contemplated, at the approach of death . 246

Preface

jHE following Memoir of the Rev. David Simpson has been executed, in deference to the urgent request of the Office-bearers of Free Trinity Church, that I should prefix a short Biographical Sketch of their late beloved pastor to the contemplated re-issue of his "Addresses to Young Men." It may be necessary to apologise for certain features of it, which are connected with my relationship to the departed. This connexion has been, in some respects, a drawback, since it occasionally prevented me from embracing opportunities for commenting on the facts recorded, which would have been welcomed by another. At the same time, it must be kept in mind that brevity was essential. And as the journal, from which the devotional extracts were taken, was written in a system of short hand known to few, there seemed no alternative. Feeling, however, the delicacy of my attempting a general estimate of the life and character of my uncle, I compiled the

X Pfeface.

concluding outline from sketches composed by friends of his, which had been previously made public.

The aim steadily kept in view by me, in preparing the volume, has been to produce such a memorial of* this worthy and zealous minister, as might help to preserve many of his wholesome and spiritual exhortations in the recollection of those that were privileged statedly to hear him. From the circumstance of Mn Simpson not commencing a journal till the year 1839, there was difficulty in maintaining a due proportion of narrative between the different periods of his life. His written journal is mainly a succession of brief jottings of daily work. Occasionally, but -especially on the recurrence of his birth-day and the New Year, these notes are extended ; many of the lengthened entries are extracted, in order that his own language may develop the tone and spirit of his religious walk<

The discourses have been selected from those which were preached either repeatedly or on public occasions. The desire to make the volume accessible to all classes, even to the poorer families of the congrega^ tion, has stood in the way of the publication of more than a few. These sermons were not prepared for the press ; titles even were not found attached to them.

It is believed that the author of the " Addresses to Young Men," had he been longer spared, would have

Prefaces 5ti

brought out a second edition of them, somewhat altered in style, and enlarged by illustrative cases. He entertained the idea of composing a series of similar addresses to young women.

If the readers of this volume derive half the plea* sure and profit in perusing it, which I have done in deciphering and recording these memoirs of past years, I shall esteem my time well spent, and my labour not in vain. It is sent forth with the prayef that its perusal maybe abundantly blessed by God to the revival and comfort of many. * Mafk the perfect man and behold the upright, lot the end of that man is peace.'

W. K. M.

Free Church Manse, Cluny, 1 1 tk Febnmry^ 1 86$ .

^uxt 'MitSU

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

** The human blossom blows, and every day Soft as it rolls along, shows some new charm, The father's lustre, and the mother's bloom."

Thomson.

AVID SIMPSON, the eldest of a large family, was the son of William Simpson and Ann Macrae. He was born at Findhorn, the town in which his parents resided, on the 22nd of May, 1795. The family moved in the humbler walks of life ; the father following the business of a generalmerchant Both his father and mother were decidedly pious, and attended to the religious education of their children.

There was something remarkable in the way in which his father devoted him before his birth to the Lord. He made a solemn vow that, if his first-born were a son, he would educate him for the ministry of the gospel. The family belonged to the Church of Scotland, but had no interest with any of her patrons. The faith of his father was so great that, when he mentioned his intention to any of his neighbours, and was met with a sneer for the presumptuousness of his wishes, he told them that he had no dependence on an arm of flesh, but that he trusted in God, who would provide for the boy a sphere of labour as soon as he was ready, and enable him, by his Holy Spirit, to serve in the work to which he had set him apart.

Mr. Simpson could never state any special time or circumstance from which he might date his conversion. It must have taken place at an early age ; he was one of those whose spiritual warmth and activity are seen to increase in proportion to the development of their powers of understanding and conscience. Those who knew him in youth, testify that there was always something about him more than is to be explained without a reference to the work of God's Spirit. This religiousness of character deterred him from joining with boys of his own age in wicked projects, although he was as playful and frolicsome as any. He was removed from his father's house to Cromarty when only four years old. He resided with his maternal uncle, and received at the Parish School his elementary education in English and Latin. To the last he retained a strong feeling of attachment for the town of his earliest recollection, which led him to visit it on several occasions during summer respites from pulpit labour. After eight years he returned to Findhorn, and for several

His Youthful Days — Tutorship, 15

months attended the Parish School of Kinloss. The teacher considering him duly prepared for college, he commenced his higher literary and philosophical education at Marischal College, Aberdeen, before he had completed his fourteenth year, in 1808. In the intervals between his first three sessions he lived with his relations in Findhorn, and attended the Parish School, perfecting his acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages and Mathematics. There are no memorials of his college course, beyond some essays written for the class of Mental and Moral Philosophy. At the termination of the fourth session he underwent the ordinary examinations, and took the degree of A.M. : he was then 17 years of age. During the later years of his college course, his heart was very earnestly directed to religion, and he cordially applied himself to preparation for the ministry. He used frequently to accompany his father to the religious gatherings at communion seasons in Morayshire, at which evangelical ministers officiated. Mr. Barron, a remarkably pious young man, who was studying for the Church, was teacher in Kinloss for two and a-half years : Mr. Simpson derived much spiritual benefit from him. God took this aspirant for the ministry to his heavenly home, before he obtained his heart's desire of preaching the gospel to perishing sinners.

Mr. Simpson was engaged to be family-tutor in Grangehall, the residence of Mr. Peterkin of Grange, in the parish of Kinloss, a year before he finished his curriculum at college. He had been recommended to this country gentleman by Mr. Barron. The unexpected death of Mr. Peterkin, before the tutor came to his house, rendered his duties truly responsible. He continued with the family about eleven and a-half years, that is, to the time of his ordination. During his residence at Grange, he frequently attended the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Stark, a gifted and popular minister of the Secession Church in Forres : thus did he early show that liberality of spirit towards evangelical ministers of all denominations, which distinguished him during his ministerial career.

He annually obtained leave of absence from the family with whom he was residing, to attend the Aberdeen Divinity Hall during six partial sessions. In after life, he deeply regretted that he had not enjoyed the advantage of full coursqs of theological lectures ; but, in his private room, the Bible and books of divinity were his close companions, so that he could well say — "Grangehall was the best Hall to me." Experimental religion was faithfully attended to. On a Communion Monday, after partaking of the Lord's Supper, he copied out and signed a lengthy covenant engagement from Doddridge's " Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." In connection with it, there is the following reflection two months later : —

"Sunday, August i8, 1816.

" This day I have perused this solemn engagement, and I must lament that depravity of heart leads me astray from God. How soon, alas ! are the most vivid impressions of religion effaced from the mind. How soon do I return as the dog to his own vomit again, and as the sow from her

Divinity Course — Church License. 17

being washed to her wallowing in the mire. How little do i feel the power of religion on my soul. How cold and d«ad is my heart Oh ! may God of his infinite mercy illuminate my mind ; may he give me such a humbling view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin as may force me to exdaim, with the most heart-felt contrition — * God be merciful . to me a sinner/ and bring me as a weary heavy-laden sinner to a Redeemer's blood, that I may obtain mercy and grace to help in every time of need. Amen and Amen !"

On joining the Divinity Classes in February, 18 18, he writes to his parents as follows : —

" May I be deeply affected with the consideration that, young and vigorous as I am, the hand which now writes, and the heart which throbs at the thought, may soon be mouldering in the dust, and my soul enter into an eternal and unchangeable state. May my hopes be placed on my adorable and compassionate Redeemer ; in deep contrition, may I be found at the feet of Jesus, pleading for mercy, where none, how vile soever, ever yet was allowed to perish. Highly favoured as I have been, from the very morning of my days, may God enable me to devote myself to the service and glory of that dear Redeemer, who I humbly trust loved me, and gave himself for me, a most unworthy and ungrateful creature, that, whether living or dying, I may be the Lord's."

Mr. Simpson was licensed as a preacher of the gospel by the Presbytery of Forres, on 28th April of the same year (181 8), before he was twenty-three years of age. He officiated first in Rafford, choosing for his text — Hebrews ii. 3, * How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation V There was considerable anxiety to hear him in his native parish, Kinloss, which was gratified on the third Sabbath. Though he had still charge of the family before mentioned, his Sab-* baths were constantly occupied with pulpit duties. He preached from time to time in Forres, Rafford, Kinloss, Edinkillie, Dyke, Alves, and Elgin. It is due to the memory of the deceased, to observe that he was remarkably popular as a youthful and evangelical preacher: not unfrequently men and women waited after sernaon to shake hands with bim. In illustration of this acceptability, the following anecdote is appro-: priate. He had preached in the church of Edinkillie ; there happened to be no blinds upon the windows. An old man, waiting at the door to greet him, asked the preacher whether he was tired, and was told in reply that he felt rather warm from the sun shining upon him. The old man said emphatically — "Ou, aye ! There were twa suns shinin' on ye."

In November the family of Grange, accompanied by their tutor, went to Edinburgh to enjoy the advantage of the winter classes of the college and schools of the Capital. One purpose of the Divine Disposer was very different from what nian conteniplated. Immediately after their arrival, all the young members of the family took measles, and thre^ of them died. The duty which devolved on their guardian, near the close of thie session, was very solemn, namely, to proceed north with their corpses, two of which had been buried in Edinburgh, but were disinterred at the death of the third child in spring. One son and two daughters returned after him; the latter being then

Ordination : Burghead. 19

put under charge of a governess. During the winter, Mr Simpson preached occasionally in Edinburgh.

Soon thereafter, he officiated for six months on Sabbath days at Alves, for Mr. Duncan Grant, now senior Free Church minister of Forres. Mr. Simpson spent his last winter of private life in St Andrews with his pupil, and preached both in the town and college Churches, as also in Cupar. During his last summer at Grange, he established a Sabbath-school in Findhorn, and attended it almost every Lord's Day, often walking several miles to the school after preaching in some neighbouring parish. Parents and children attended in great numbers; and a strong testimony was thus given against the cold moderatism which had, for a lengthened period, reigned in that quarter.

Section Ii.— 1822 To 1825

** But in his duty prompt at every call, He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all."

Goldsmith.

NEW Chapel of Ease was built for the parish of Duffus in the sea-port of Burghead. The Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge allowed ;^20, and the Committee for managing the Royal Bounty other ;^2o; whatever more salary the minister obtained, was derived from seat rents. The entire salary which could be relied on, for some time, was £(^ ; from which j^io had to be deducted to pay the rent of a house. The congregation unanimously elected Mr. Simpson to be their minister on loth October, 1822. He was thus called to labour in the neighbourhood in which he had been born and brought up. Unexpected difficulties presented themselves from the coldness with which some of the members of Presbytery looked on this charge. In a way not usual the ordination-trials were put off from one meeting to another. The preacher-elect went to reside in Burghead, immediately after being chosen by the people ; and in the interval of eight months, he applied himself with energy to meet their spiritual wants. It was not till 2nd July, 1823, that his settlement was effected ; and then the ordination was performed in private, not to wound the feelings of the parish minister. From the increase of attendance in church, it became necessary to erect a gallery. The debt was ere long removed by special efforts among the congregation, and within the bounds of the Synod. The children of the flock were carefully tended. After the regular services of the Sabbath, Mr. Simpson, unaided, taught a Sabbath evening school, before closing which, he gave a short lecture on some passage of Scripture. The place of meeting was often crowded to excess, by old as •well as young. Referring to the bodily fatigue induced by these exertions, he remarked — " I hope some salutary impressions will be made upon the young, and thus will there be an ample recompense for all the toil." The following notes upon one of his sermons vividly open up the warmth and practical aim of his ministry at this

Elgin Vacancy, 21

period. " When I see so many careless, profane, and perishing sinners before me, my spirit is in some degree stirred within me, and I give vent to my feelings with a degree of vehemence which some who do not see any reason for it mistake for passion. I had a short address to swearers, and I endeavoured with all the energy of which I was capable, to describe the enormity of this sin, and to point out its tremendous consequences. I was directing their attention to the judgment of the great day, and was asking swearers how they, who had so alarmingly trampled on God's authority and poured contempt on his Majesty, could stand in his awful presence. On such an occasion surely some degree of earnestness was allowable."

It is interesting to observe how early Foreign Missions secured a large share of his sympathies. There is extant a copy of a long missionary address which he delivered, while at Burghead. As it is of a general nature, it is. unnecessary to quote from it.

About a year after his ordination, a vacancy occurred in Elgin, occasioned by the death of Dr. Gordon, one of its collegiate ministers. Mr. Simpson had frequently preached there before his settlement within the Presbytery. The patronage was in the hands of government ; and the Earl of Liverpool, with his Home-Secretary, Mr Robert Peel, was disposed to abide by the recommendation of Town- Councils. A strong effort was made in the Council of Elgin to obtain his appointment. On the vote being taken, there was an equal number for him and Mr. Walker, the nominee of Lord Fife's party : the latter was elected by the casting vote of the Pfovost- This movement in favour of Mr. Simpson wa5 most gratifying to him, as he had not the slightest idea that he was to be put in nomination, and the support he received was therefore unsolicited. Though in this instance he did not come forward as a candidate, he entertained the thought of removal from Burghead in consequence of the smallness of the salary. It is to be observed, that though he adopted the side of Anti-patronage in the conflict within the Church of Scotland, it was at a sacrifice, since about this time he was brought by friends under the notice of two patrons of noble rank, and obtained a promise from a member of parliament that he would use his influence with Government in his behalf. His own remark was — " The best way of succeeding is to get a preacher's name on a patron's list, and in the course of time he will get a church." He was, however, indebted for promotion not to patronage but to popular election.

In October, 1824, the vacancy which was about to occur in Trinity Chapel, Aberdeen, through the presentation of its minister, Mr., afterwards Dr. John Murray, to one of the town's churches, was mentioned to him by a co-presbyter, Mr. Grant, who took a warm interest in his friend s success. Out of a large number of candidates, four were put on the leet, each to officiate two Sabbaths. The elders and managers of this large and important congregation were careful to test the varied qualifications of their candidates. Mr. Simpson, in addition to the pulpit duties, on the first Sabbath visited two Sabbath schools; during the

Election to Trinity Chapel, 23

week spoke at a missionary meeting ; on the second Sabbath visited three schools; and before leaving, attended a meeting of the congregational association for the diffusion of the Gospel. There was a powerful sensation producied ; so much so, that on the last Sabbath, owing to the crowd Assembled, many of the hearers could not reach their seats, and were obliged to retire. Along with the abundance of work, very great kindness was experienced by Mr. Simpson. From an early period, we see the large amount of teligious life that pervaded a congregation which afterwards distinguished itself by its decided testimony to the principles of its founders. The excitement connected with the election was intense ; and the exertions made by the supporters of the three popular candidates, increased as the decisive day ^approached. Th^ credit of popular elections was well sustained throughout. The letter which communicated the result mentioned that there Was never a more orderly and harmonious meeting in Trinity Chapel, and that the choice would be satisfactory to the great majority of those who did not vote for him. The second in order, Mr. Leith, afterwards minister of the South Parish, was early removed from the church below- Mr. Simpson preached and published a funeral sermon, in which he paid a high tribute to the memory of this young clergyman. The third was the Rev. Gavin Parker, afterwards minister of Bon- Accord Church, Aberdeen, who was long a co-presbyter and esteemed brother in the ministry. The call being Accepted, Mr. Murray inducted his successor on the

3rd of May, 1825. The tie which was then formed lasted, with much comfort on both sides, during a period of thirty-nine years, until the Master called his servant to a higher sphere.

The parting with his congregation in Morayshire was a severe trial. The scene which occurred at the chapel on his last Sabbath among them, is still fresh in the memory of survivors. Mr Simpson, at the close of the farewell discourse, delivered a short and pointed appeal to his flock. The moment he mentioned his approaching departure, the people seemed as if struck by an electric shock. Many tears were shed, while they were bidding him adieu at the door ; and he, unable to restrain his emotions, hastened home.

Section Iii.— 1825 To 1843

** Only the actions of the iust Smell sweet, and blossom in the dust."

|RINITY Chapel-of-Ease was built in 1794.* All its ministers had been decidedly evangelical, and its members were jealous of their ecclesiastical liberties. Shortly before Mr. Simpson's

* "In the year 1794, a vacancy having happened in the ministerial charge of Saint Nicholas Church, by the death of one of the incumbents, many of the congregation, who usually Irequented the East Church, insisted upon having a minister to supply his place appointed by a popular call. This was refused by the Town Council, who, as lay patrons, presented a minister contrary to the inclinations of the congre-

Translation, 25

coming to Aberdeen, a proposal, made for its erection into a parish church, was rejected by the congregation. The weekly attendance was large, reaching an average of 1200. After the Assembly's Chapel Act of 1834, a contiguous and compact district was separated from the South Parish for Trinity " Qtwad Sacra" Church. The parishioners were principally tradesmen, and operatives in manufactories. Intemperance was very prevalent. The new pastor lost no time in making himself acquainted with the families and members of his flock:

gation, and a division among them was the consequence. Those who were disaffected to the presentee applied to the Presbytery, in the common form to erect a Chapel of Ease for their own accommodation. That reverened body, being impressed with a conviction that the increasing population of Aberdeen required an additional place of worship under the Established Church, readily granted their request. A chapel having accordingly been erected on the grounds belonging to the Trades' Hospital, on the south side of the Shiprow, the congregation, after trial of the qualifications of different preachers, appointed Mr. Robert Doig to be their pastor, in the month of October of that year, and the Presbytery having sanctioned the nomination, he was ordained accordingly. He continued in this ministerial charge till the year 1813, when, being nominated one of the ministers of the Established Church, he demitted his office, and was succeeded by the late Mr. Kirkland. After his death, Mr. John Murray, the present incumbent, was appointed pastor, in the year 181 6, in consequence of a call from the constituent members.

This is a large and commodious place of worship, and the congregation at present exceed fourteen hundred persons. The expense of erecting the chapel was about £2000 sterling, the greater part of which was raised by voluntary contribution of the original constituent members. The seat rents are appropriated to the payment of the minister's stipend, which is ;^200 sterling yearly, and to the support of the establishment. The clergyman is also provided with a good dwelling house, built at the expense of the congregation." JCennedys Annals of Aberdeen 1818.

he visited them at the almost incredible rate of thirty or forty families in a day. The minister with whom at this stage he had most intercourse, and with whom he frequently exchanged brotherly services at communion-seasons, was Dr. Kidd. Shortly after occupying his new sphere of labour he allied himself in marriage with Miss Jane Kinnaird, an Edinburgh lady. Besides the ordinary labours to which the minister of a large town charge is called to attend, Mr. Simpson interested himself in special congregational movements, as also in more public enterprises.

He issued an appeal for the formation of a Congregational Library, which was heartily responded to. The following extract evinces his sense of the importance of an extensive religious literature adapted to the times. '* We wish not only that the Bible were universally in the hands of the people, but also to give them access to a variety of other books which are calculated to explain, to illustrate, and to enforce its contents. In the present age a taste for reading has been very generally diffused ; it is, therefore, of the greatest importance that the taste be gratified by providing a supply of instructive and interesting books. For this purpose small libraries have been attached to many Churches and Chapels and Sabbath Schools, and they have proved eminently beneficent. In this local institution the people are found to take a deep interest, and by means of the books which are put within their reach, their views are greatly expanded and enlarged, their principles strengthened and improved, their laudable curiosity gratified, their consciences affected, their

Church Politics,

hearts impressed, their zeal excited, thei

stimulated, and their prospects brightened.

Where is the Christian who on reading the 1

illustrious disciple of the Redeemer has no

self disposed to exclaim, *Alas my lea

leanness T how little progress I have made i

to heaven ! how small a portion of the sp;

Divine Master I have imbibed in compa

those excellent men !' And have there not

many instances of real conversions to God a

the perusal of the lives of departed saints ?

the strongest prejudices thereby been ren

the infinite value and excellence of the g(

felt and acknowledged ? Is not this a mot

suade us to read diligently and with earn

for the Divine blessing such valuable book!

Mr. Simpson's sentiments on the lawfi

terms of a connexion between Church and

early formed. He took a decided stand i

troversy with those Dissenters that were op

National Establishment, and, even before

preacher, addressed meetings on the subject

Establishments. Accordingly, he took an i

along with the Rev. Mr. Gray of Woodside,

better known as Andrew Gray of Perth, in

the Aberdeen Auxiliary Young Men's Assc

the Defence and Extension of the Establisl:

of Scotland. We submit the second of a s

solutions drawn up by him for the public m

on its formation : " That entertaining a prof

ration for the doctrines, disciph'ne, and gov our National Church, and reckoning it one of the greatest blessings which God has been pleased to bestow upon this country, the members of this institution consider themselves bound to exert themselves vigorously to repel the attacks of its enemies, to strengthen the attachment of its friends, and to perpetuate its benefits through all succeeding generations." Within the Establishment, the evangelical and liberal party was gaining strength. From the commencement of his ministerial career in town, he heartily co-operated with those brethren who adopted the cause of Anti-patronage. He delivered a lengthened address at the first meeting of the Aberdeen Anti-patronage Society. In a report which he wrote for one of its annual meetings, there are remarks pregnant with meaning, when read in the light of the Disruption and the privilege of popular election enjoyed within the Free Church of Scotland : — " May we not cherish the pleasing hope that there will be few congregations so careless and lukewarm as not to express their detestation of patronage and their earnest desire to be delivered from it.? Their distinguished forefathers remonstrated against it in the strongest terms, and would have made any personal sacrifice to procure its abolition. It would be a most melancholy event, if, through the indolence and supineness of the members of the Establishment, the Government should be led to suppose that a very partial change in the existing mode of appointing ministers to vacant parishes, is all that is necessary or desirable."